Knock, Knock. Who's There?

Marcus Welby.  

Marcus Welby Who?

It Marcus Welby spring.

(sung to the tune of "It Might as Well be Spring"

From Rogers and Hammerstein's State Fair

If you're too young to remember Marcus Welby or State Fair, I'm extremely jealous of you and as soon as you get close enough, I'll beat you with my cane!

Anyway, spring is making herself known in my garden.  Here are a few signs of her arrival:

Maples and others leafing out

Hostas, some pushing up their noses and others unfurling leaves.

Muscari macrocarpum 'Golden Fragrance'

Daffodil 'British Gamble' is even better in person.  This is the first time I've grown this one and am delighted with it!

You perhaps remember this magnolia tree from a week ago.

There are a couple more magnolias adding to the show.

'Judy' 

Magnolia 'Black Tulip,' a new addition last spring.  You can sort of see the red rhododendron  behind the yew bottom right.  I keep threatening to get rid of it but it blooms now, in the summer and again in the fall. 

The first of the new tulips are starting to show color. 

Daffodils too.  Calla foliage is pretty far along for this time of year. 

The color echoes of the pink and pink and orange tulips with Rheum palmatum atrosanguineum  (common name is That damned Rhubarb that collapses on everything and then dies in the middle of the summer leaving a huge hole in the bed.) are lovely.

Tulip 'Fire of Love' grown as much for foliage (which the slugs also seem to  love) as for flower, is popping out of the ground. There is a nice sluggo mulch around these now. 

Not a subtle plant in any way, Rhododendron 'President Roosavelt' has beautifully variegated evergreen foliage and these fabulous flowers.  Hey, if you're going to grow a rhododendron (that isn't a species)  isn't flashy a good thing?  Someone should really pull some of those damned Dicentra formosa (lovely thug) before taking pictures!

As you can see, weevils like it too.  Th only thing this plant doesn't have is fragrance.  That's o.k. the Skimmia japonica is taking care of that. 

Trillium  in a sea of another beautiful  native thug, Oxalis oregana.  Evergreen and delicate looking, this Oxalis takes the driest shade in stride and is perfect for growing there.  It'll get put to the test when some gets moved into the bamboo grove.  The copious bamboo litter may just do it in.

More tulips.  These are supposed to turn orange as they age.  

Out of control Camellia 'Scentsation' has a "delicate fragrance."  That's Latin for you can smell it if you stuff the flower directly into your nostrils. A bit painful but it's the only way.  Someon needs to do some serious pruning!

Fatsia Japonica 'Variegata'  putting out a flush of new growth.  Monrovia is marketing this under the trademarked name 'Camouflage.'  Monrovia is also now selling plants at Lowe's.  Just saw several big green pots of Stachyurus salicifolius with Mr. Hinkley's image on them there over the weekend.   I'm calling these Nerd plants on the Dan Lowe.  (On the down-low, a slang expression.)

Meconopsis sheldonii emerging from dormancy.

Someone has some work to do but if he waits long enough, the greenery will cover everything.

The church in the background which makes a lovely focal point until the deciduous trees in the parking strip obscure it, is still for sale.  It would make a fabulous restaurant.  Previously a Synagogue, it would be a great place to revive a former Tacoma business, a coffee house called The Temple of the Bean. How about K'nesset Bagels and Kosher Deli?  Seattle's Matzo Mama's  perhaps could open a second location.  It's difficult to find a real bagel in the wild west!  If none of that works, I really miss having a Mexican restaurant across the street - Mitzveh Mexican?  Another M word is McMenamins who would also be great neighbors!

For those of you who still have snow on the ground, you have my sincerest sympathy.  Have you considered moving here?  Happy spring!